The Popko Project

On Episode 280 of The Popko Project Podcast, I'm joined by Tyler and Sonya of The UNCRTN, a New York-based alternative rock/metal band pushing creative boundaries with their cinematic sound, powerful storytelling, and brand-new EP, MACHINE.What started as a chance meeting in a college computer science class has evolved into something much bigger. The UNCRTN have created an entire dystopian uni...

Mike Paris joins The Popko Project Podcast for Episode 279! For the past 20 years, Mike has toured and recorded with O.A.R. as a keyboardist, percussionist and backing vocalist—but his story goes far beyond O.A.R. Mike takes us back to discovering music as a kid, his years performing around the world with STOMP, touring with P!nk, appearing on Saturday Night Live, and the unexpected connection tha...

Episode 278 of The Popko Project Podcast features  The Harbinger Curse , a heavy rock band from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. Frontman Jason shares stories from his nearly 25-year career with the United States Secret Service—including working from the Clinton through Biden administrations, traveling the world, being at work on 9/11, and memorable encounters with Garth Brooks, Jon Bon Jovi, Bono, J...

What an absolute honor it was to interview John Ondrasik, better known as Five For Fighting—an artist whose music played such a significant part of my life in the early 2000s. The album America Town arrived during my senior year of high school, and songs like “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” “Easy Tonight,” and the rest of that record became permanently attached to that time in my life. If you told 18-...

In Episode 276 of  The Popko Project Podcast , Popko sits down with New York-based rock band  Scarhaven  for a conversation about the band's beginnings, finding their identity, and carrying the spirit of ’90s alternative and grunge into a new generation. Scarhaven wears its influences proudly — drawing inspiration from bands like  Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana  — while working t...

In Episode 275 of  The Popko Project Podcast , Popko sits down with Nashville-based artist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist  Johnny Cochran  to talk about finding your own lane, staying authentic and why success in music can't always be measured by the numbers on a screen. Originally from Louisiana, Johnny grew up surrounded by music before eventually making the move to Nashville. After i...

On Episode 274 of The Popko Project Podcast, Popko sits down with Blake, guitarist for Southern California rock band Joyous Wolf, ahead of the release of their long-awaited debut full-length album, In Between, arriving August 21st. Blake takes us inside the evolution of Joyous Wolf—from their early days playing local shows in Orange County and hitting the road in a van, to signing record deals, na...

Content Advisory: This episode includes discussion of suicide, mental health, grief, and loss. Listener/viewer discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available by calling or texting 988 (U.S. and Canada) or by contacting your local crisis resources. Burial Ground is back! In Episode 273, I sit down with members of the legendary NEPA hardcore pioneers to talk ab...

What happens when you walk away from a successful career to pursue the thing you can't stop thinking about? In Episode 272 of The Popko Project Podcast , host Popko sits down with singer-songwriter Jonathon Penn to discuss his journey from a career in finance to becoming an independent musician. Jonathon shares the inspiration behind his new album, It Took a Long Time To Get Young , and opens...

Krista Berardelli Shares the Story Behind Rock to Remember | The Popko Project Podcast Episode 271 Some stories deserve to be told because they have the power to inspire others. This conversation with Krista Berardelli is one of those stories. On Episode 271 of The Popko Project Podcast, Krista opens up about the life and […]

In Episode 270 of The Popko Project Podcast, we sit down with Matt and Stephen from Philadelphia pop-punk band Dead Wrong to discuss their debut full-length album, The Extent, their upcoming album release show, and the journey that brought the band together. The conversation dives into the band’s origins, songwriting process, musical influences, and the […]

On this episode of The Popko Project Podcast, we sit down with Derrick Ryan, the creative force behind Minute After Midnight, to talk about his journey from skate parks and local hardcore shows in Tennessee to signing with Fearless Records and building one of rock’s most promising emerging projects. Derrick shares the story behind the […]

In Episode 268 of The Popko Project Podcast, I sit down with rising alt-rock band American Vanity to talk about their explosive growth on social media, the evolution from Burn the Jukebox into American Vanity, their upcoming album, touring life, music influences, and what it really takes to break through in today’s music scene. The […]

On this episode of The Popko Project Podcast, we sit down with post-hardcore veterans A Static Lullaby for an in-depth conversation about their long-awaited return, revisiting their classic album …And Don’t Forget to Breathe, and reconnecting with the music that helped define an era of emo and post-hardcore music. The band reflects on their rise […]

In this episode of the Popko Project Podcast, the spotlight is on Baltimore pop punk band AITA (stylized A.I.T.A.), a fast-rising group blending emotional honesty, explosive energy, and modern pop punk attitude. The band joins the show to talk about their unique origin story, how they chose their name, the realities of being independent musicians […]

In Episode 265, Popko sits down with musician, producer, and former Citizen King member Kristian Riley for a deep dive into a career that spans from ‘90s radio fame to today’s ever-evolving music landscape. Kristian reflects on his time in Citizen King, the band behind the hit “Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)” sharing […]

Episode 264 of The Popko Project Podcast features S8NT ELEKTRIC 🔥 LA-based pop-metal band S8NT ELEKTRIC joins the show to talk about their explosive new album Off The Edge, the journey behind the band, and what it really means to live life without limits. From meeting online and building a band from scratch… to creating […]

In this episode, rising Revival Rock artist Chris Greiner joins The Popko Project Podcast to talk about his music, faith, and the story behind “All Will Be Well.” Chris Greiner is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter out of Bucks County, PA, who’s carving out his own lane with what he calls “Revival Rock”—a blend of country, southern […]

In this episode, Popko sits down with Logan from Scarlett O’Hara for a high-energy, no-BS conversation about music, identity, and staying real in today’s scene. The Texas-based metalcore band isn’t holding anything back — and neither is this interview. They get into the band’s evolution, creative mindset, and what it takes to stand out while […]

Episode 261 of The Popko Project Podcast features a powerful and nostalgic conversation with Aaron Fink (former guitarist of Breaking Benjamin) and Baxter Teal (of Deepfield), as they discuss the highly anticipated live event “We Are Not Alone.” On March 7th at Front Street Station in Northumberland, PA, Fink reunites with original Breaking Benjamin members […]

Episode 260 of The Popko Project Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Crispin Earl of The Veer Union. From major label success to taking control of their masters, The Veer Union have navigated the ever-changing music industry with resilience, strategy, and relentless work ethic. In this episode, Crispin opens up about the band’s evolution, surviving […]

Ep. 259 – Geena Russo: From Tattoos to Tailgates – Building NEPA’s Wildest Country Music Festival In Episode 259 of The Popko Project Podcast, I sit down with Geena Russo, founder of the River Wave Country Music Festival and co-owner of the beloved 570 Tattooing Company. This episode dives deep into how Geena took her […]

On Episode 257 of The Popko Project Podcast, I’m joined by Tysoul for a conversation that’s equal parts real talk and creative fuel. We get into the moments that shaped him, what drives his sound, and how he balances passion with the pressure to keep leveling up. We dig into the creative process, the influences […]

Episode 256 – In A Perfect Sky | The Popko Project Podcast 🎙️ In this episode of The Popko Project Podcast, Popko is joined by Gerry from In A Perfect Sky, an emerging acoustic/emo/indie duo from Northeastern Pennsylvania. They dive deep into the band’s beginnings, Gerry’s transition from bassist to frontman, and the creation of […]